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Pecan nut is high in calories and fat nut, which is (by the way) a super tasty snack.
But are pecans duck-friendly snacks?
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Your ducks can eat pecans, but remember that you must know the limits before letting them overeat.
Read this quick post to find out all you wanted to know about pecans and ducks.
What Are Pecans?
Pecan tree nuts come from (Pecan) hickory trees in the United States and Mexico.
These crunchy and buttery nuts are all well known across America. Shell is unbreakable (for ducks), something like walnuts.
Ducks can only play with this nut until you break the shell and offer them this delicacy.
When it comes to nutritional value, pecans are pretty similar to walnuts and hazelnuts.
However, in pecans, there is slightly less protein and much more fat than these two nuts.
How Much Pecans Ducks Can Eat?
Less than 1/2 ounce (14gr) per day is something I always recommend.
You probably are feeding your duck with proper duck feed and lots of vegetable or fruit snacks – so keep pecans as an occasional treat.
I would say once a week. This nut is low in calcium and protein and extremely high in fat. Keep that in mind.
Even though pecans are a high-fat snack, your ducks will appreciate all the vitamins and minerals this nut provides.
Okay, they don’t care, but you can be relaxed knowing that pecans are full of manganese, phosphorus, and zinc.
Zinc is needed for immune function, as well as brain function.
And it is also great if your ducks have got some wounds lately. It will help with the healing process.
Preparation Tips
Get rid of shells and throw them somewhere ducks won’t find them.
Be Careful – This nut could be a choking hazard. Be sure to cut pecans into tiny pieces and serve that to your ducks.
You can also ground pecans and mix them with duck pellets. Be extra careful not to let your ducks eat pecans on their own.
If they take too many pecans into their bills, there is a chance they will have serious difficulties swallowing that.
They can even choke.
Even if they swallow that, duck stomachs will have trouble digesting that nut.
So be careful, prepare the pecans well, and don’t let them eat too much.
Can Ducklings Eat Pecans
Pecan nuts will add fiber, vitamins, and minerals to your duckling’s diet.
However, at a young age (up to 4 weeks), your ducklings need specially formulated ducklings pellets:
- high in niacin
- high in protein
- and well-balanced minerals and vitamins
If you give them too many pecans, their appetite will drop, and they won’t eat as much ducklings food as needed.
That’s why I always say avoid feeding ducklings pecans in the first four weeks (eight weeks even better).
After That – You can start experimenting with nuts like walnuts, peanuts, or probably better snacks like cabbage, lettuce, or strawberries.
Final Thoughts
Pecans are high-calorie, high-fat, and low-protein snacks that can benefit your duck’s health only if you eat them in moderation.
So, remember that and prepare them as mentioned above.
And feed your ducks pecans only once a week because you are probably giving them all other kinds of snacks already – as we all do.
However, if you want to provide your ducks with a healthy and balanced diet, the snacks and treats should be 10 percent of your duck’s diet.
The rest should be specially formulated duck food.